What is the first step into Catholicism?

Answer 1

It depends on where you are stepping from.

Any person who wishes to enter the Catholic Church must follow what is known as the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA. This is a formation process that begins with lessons on the Catholic religion.

Initially, people interested in the Catholic Church or becoming Catholic inquire about the RCIA classes at their local church. Once enrolled, the person will attend classes that could be taught by a priest or another qualified lay person. Here, they can learn about the Catholic religion and have any questions they have answered. There is never any obligation to formally join the Church during the classes. People are, however encouraged to attend Sunday Mass during RCIA to begin to become part of the church community they may eventually join.

The class portion of RCIA usually lasts about a year. Once the classes are over, and the person has decided to join the Catholic Church, they must receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, First Reconcilliation, and First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Normally, a person is formally received into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass, or the Mass the night before Easter Sunday. Usually a person will make their First Reconcilliation, or first confession sometime prior to the Easter Vigil Mass. This isn't as scary as one would think, as the person is prepared ahead of time.

If the person is already baptized, they will not receive baptism at the Easter Vigil. The Catholic Church accepts baptism from any Christian church as long as they use the Trinitarian formula; i.e. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The person will also receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil, at which time they will become a full member of the Catholic Church.

Hope this helps!